Browns hoping there's still life in their Tank

Tank Carder’s only NFL start as a rookie came against Pittsburgh. His second NFL start figures to come against the Steelers on Sunday, and this time, it counts.

BY Steve DoerschukCantonRep.com staff writer

A man named Carder is on deck, with a chance to keep the Browns’ season from going in the tank.

With starting inside linebacker Craig Robertson facing multiple games out with a sprained knee, Rob Chudzinski found himself answering his first Tank Carder questions of the season.

“He was a Rose Bowl MVP,” Chudzinski said as he began to describe Robertson’s replacement. Carder is expected to start against the Steelers on Sunday.

On Jan. 1, 2011, Carder was named defensive player of the game after Texas Christian’s 21-19 Rose Bowl win over Wisconsin.

Wisconsin had knocked Ohio State out of the national championship hunt, beating the Buckeyes when they were ranked No. 1. Texas Christian, whose quarterback was Andy Dalton, finished 13-0.

Carder thus was on a much bigger college stage than Robertson, who played at North Texas. In fact, Carder was a fifth-round draft pick in 2012 (Buffalo), whereas Robertson was undrafted in 2011.

As the top dog on TCU’s No. 1-ranked defense, Carder made assorted All-America teams.

After he was named Mountain West Conference defensive player of the year in 2010 and 2011, Pro Football Weekly wrote this draft report:

“Strengths: “Drops into coverage and shows alert zone reactions. Has a special teams mentality and traits. Vocal leader. Solid football character.

“Weaknesses: Exposed by speed and quickness in space. Plays short-armed and can be eliminated by larger blockers. Leaky tackler.”

The Bills saw flaws that prompted them to cut him at the end of the 2012 preseason. Tom Heckert quickly claimed him off waivers.

Carder made the Browns’ roster but faded into the shadows of special teams. He stayed there this year, drawing scant notice.

Last Sunday, though, after Robertson went down at Cincinnati, Carder played 38 snaps, as many as No. 6 overall draft pick Barkevious Mingo.

“I didn’t feel like the Bengals changed their scheme when I was in,” Carder said.

Coaches thought he held up as well as could be expected, coming off a practice week of limited reps. His most important play came midway through the third quarter after the Browns had scored to cut a deficit to 31-20. On third-and-five, he tackled Giovani Bernard well short of a first down to force a punt.

Unfortunately, Armonty Bryant was offside on the snap for the punt, keeping the ball with the Bengals and killing momentum.

On the first play after the Bengals offense ran back on the field, Carder gave up a 15-yard catch to tight end Tyler Eifert before making a tackle.

This week, preparing as a starter, Carder has exuded confidence.

“I know I can play football,” he said. “Whatever role I’m given, starter, backup, all special teams ... I’m going to rise to the challenge.”

Most people have to look up his real name, Ricky. He has been “Tank” ever since going to school in Sweeny, Texas, as the biggest kid in his class.

Competition drove him from an early age. He grew up on a bicycle. At age 9, he was a BMX world champion.

He was practically welded to his bike from the time he was 2 until serious racing left him with burnout at 10.

As a seventh-grader, he emerged from a car crash that broke his back in two places, punctured his lungs and nearly killed him. Doctors called him a “miracle kid” after he survived and set out to make it in football.

He made it big-time at TCU. For now, he has settled for making the team in the NFL. As a Browns rookie, he spent 2012 on special teams, not seeing the field on defense until the final game. Then, he started in place of injured James-Michael Johnson — against Pittsburgh.

Now, the 6-foot-2, 240-pounder is headed for the first start of his second season — against Pittsburgh.

Last year, the Pittsburgh game came at garbage time. Now, the Browns are in a playoff hunt.

It sounds as if he knows the drill.

“Steelers? That’s all we talk about,” he said, “especially the week the game comes. It’s huge.”